How to Decorate Your Lawn for Easter

by Amelia Allonsy

The symbols of Easter range from sacred cross symbols to more secular symbols of spring, such as baby chicks, rabbits and decorated Easter eggs. Your Easter garden decorations can draw on all these symbols or select only one or two to bring Easter cheer to your children and your neighborhood. Home improvement stores and other mass merchandise retailers sell Easter-themed decorations to suit a variety of decorating styles, whether you prefer cartoon-like decorations that appeal to children or more elegant -- and likely more expensive -- varieties.

2 Place your potted outdoor plants inside large, woven baskets to give the look of country Easter baskets. Place an overflow catch basin under the pot so draining water from the plant doesn't damage the basket.

3 Place bunny, chick or similar Easter-themed statuary in a flower bed to accent your garden plants. If you have a rustic landscaping style, seek out antique statuary in antique stores, estate sales and flea markets. You can also find subtle statuary in many garden centers that you can keep on display even after Easter. Search the seasonal retail section of mass merchandise stores for more Easter-specific items that are more likely to appeal to small children.

4 Hang an Easter-themed wreath on your front door. If you want to make your own wreath, start with a grapevine, raffia or foam wreath form and cover it with springtime looks like pussy willow (Salix discolor, USDA zones 4 through 8) or forsythia (Forsythia spp., USDA zones 4 through 9) branches. Use a hot glue gun to attach wooden or plastic eggs or other small Easter objects -- craft stores often sell wooden cut-out rabbits, eggs and chicks that you can paint and attach to the wreath. Finish the wreath with a decorative ribbon bow in a pastel color.

5 Draw a large Easter egg shape, bunny shape, chick or similar Easter symbol on a piece of 3/4-inch plywood. Use a jig saw to cut the shape out of the plywood. Screw two evenly spaced wooden stakes into the bottom on the back side of the shape, using 1 1/2-inch wood screws. Paint the shape to suit your personal decorating style and seal in the paint with clear acrylic sealer spray. Push the stakes into the ground to display the shape in your yard. Alternatively, you can cut a square or oval shape and paint "Happy Easter" or a similar greeting on the sign.

6 Screw tiny eyelet screws into the tops of wooden Easter eggs. Tie fishing line to the eyelet and suspend the eggs from tree branches, a pergola, arbor or porch roof. Buy pre-painted wooden eggs or decorate plain wooden eggs, which can be found at a craft store.

7 Line window boxes with straw and place larger wooden or plastic eggs on the straw to turn unplanted window boxes into Easter egg nests. You might also try this idea with urn planters that flank your front door.

8 Line each side of your front walkway with decorative Easter stake signs. You can often find pre-made stake signs that exclaim "Happy Easter" or you can make your own. Cut egg shapes or a bunny or chick outline from heavy cardstock or a similar material. Glue the shapes to an 18-inch wooden stake, a paint stirrer or a simple bamboo skewer. Cardstock and cardboard are not waterproof, so this type of decoration is best for use on a sunny day and brought indoors if rain is expected.

Items you will need

Spring flowers

Colored foil

Ribbon

Large, woven baskets

Easter statuary

Wreath form

Pussy willow or forsythia branches

Small wooden or plastic eggs

Wood cut-out shapes

Paint

Paintbrushes

Pencil

3/4-inch plywood

Jig saw

Wooden stakes

Power drill

1 1/2 inch wood screws

Eyelet screws

Fishing line

Straw

Large wooden or plastic eggs

Easter stake signs

Cardstock

Scissors

Glue

Stake, paint stirrer or bamboo skewer

Tip

Keep your lawn well-watered and neatly trimmed as a way to further accent your Easter decorations. Green grass is a common sign of spring and Easter -- Easter baskets are commonly filled with green grass.